Mooney M20R accident near Van Nuys, CA
On June 16, 1998, a Mooney M20R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 16, 1998
- Place
- Van Nuys, CA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.189°N, 118.491°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10339
Official records · LAX98FA199
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 16, 1998, about 0514 hours Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20R, N130RB, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot was destroyed during collision with a residence at Van Nuys, California. The pilot and passenger both received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to airport police at 0512, the aircraft departed from runway 16R without radio transmission. The air traffic control tower was closed at the time of the departure. Radar data obtained from the airport noise abatement program indicated a right climbing turn to about 2,200 feet msl, followed by a rapid descent into a residential area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Burbank Approach radar recording system was down for maintenance at the time of the accident. According to a family member, the pilot was en route to a Minneapolis, Minnesota, for an appointment at the Mayo Clinic. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The private pilot was rated for airplane single engine land in visual flight conditions. The pilot was not instrument rated and had no known instrument flight training. The pilot's flight logbook was not recovered. At the pilot's last third-class flight physical dated April 4, 1997, he reported a total flight time of 4,100 hours. The pilot had recently purchased the accident aircraft and attended Flight Safety International to meet the VFR requirements of his insurance company. On January 21, 1998, the pilot completed a Mooney Pilot Initial Training Program. The training started on January 19, 1998, and consisted of ground
Probable cause
the non-instrument rated pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the low ceiling, drizzle, and fog.
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Browse: California · Mooney aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
